Military Trial Results · Analysis
Understanding Trends in Military Practice
Analysis of real court-martial records: what gets charged, how cases end, what sentences look like, how experienced the lawyers of record were, and what changed when the law did.
Every number is computed from the Military Trial Results data, built from the services' public court-martial records. Each post says how many cases it rests on, the years covered, and how we counted. Read how this data was built before citing it.
Browse the Analysis
- By InstallationBases and regions, by time period
- By OffenseUCMJ articles, rising and falling charges
- By ServiceArmy, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps
- By YearWhat each year and month looked like
- SentencesConfinement, discharges, judge alone vs. members
- Counsel ExperiencePrior cases of the lawyers of record
- Law ChangesBefore and after the major reforms
- Episode CompanionsThe numbers behind podcast episodes
Federal Prosecution Analysis
How do federal prosecutions compare with courts-martial? These posts use the U.S. Sentencing Commission's records of everyone sentenced in federal court and the Federal Judicial Center's records of every federal defendant whose case ended, including dismissals and acquittals, for fiscal years 2016 to 2025. They cover sentences, guilty pleas, trials and acquittals, mandatory minimums, and supervised release, offense by offense. Where a federal crime has a close counterpart in the UCMJ, the post sets the two side by side. Where it doesn't, the post reports the federal numbers on their own. For how military law has moved toward the federal system, start with Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System.
Latest Analysis
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Texas, 753 people were sentenced for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 744 (99%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 16 months, compared with 7 months for immigration offenses in all 94 federal districts. Sentences within the guideline r
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Eastern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Texas, 815 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, and embezzlement in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 597 (73%) received a prison term, and 183 (22%) received probation only. Restitution was ordered for 658 people (81%).
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Eastern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Texas, 1,087 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 1,040 (96%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 46 months (3.8 years), compared with 42 months for firearms in all 94 federal districts. Sentences within the guideline
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Eastern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 47% of the 7,998 people sentenced in the Eastern District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 3,793 people. Of those, 3,752 (99%) received a prison term, with a median of 115 months (9.6 years). For all 94 federal districts, the median for drug trafficking was 60 months.
Federal Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
Only 15 people were sentenced for burglary or trespass in the Northern District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 13 (87%) received a prison term, with a median of 13 months. All 15 (100%) pleaded guilty.
Federal Murder Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Texas, 31 people were sentenced for murder offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 30 (97%) received a prison term, with a median of 264 months (22 years), and 7 received a life sentence. A mandatory minimum applied to 15 people (48%).
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
Of the 31 people sentenced for drug possession in the Northern District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 20 (65%) went to prison and 11 (35%) received probation only. The median prison term was 6 months, the same as across all 94 districts.
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Northern District of Texas sentenced 35 people for commercialized vice offenses in fiscal years 2017 to 2025. 29 (83%) received a prison term, and the median was 18 months. That median is the same as the 18 months across all 94 districts.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Texas, 36 people were sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, or copyright offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 36 (100%) pleaded guilty. 31 (86%) received a prison term, with a median of 21 months.
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
All 40 people sentenced for kidnapping in the Northern District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 189.5 months (15.8 years), which is higher than the 155 months across all 94 districts and the 60 months for all offenses in this district.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Sentencing Commission's "Other" offense type covers a mixed group of federal crimes. In the Northern District of Texas, 43 people were sentenced under it in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 28 (65%) went to prison for a median of 7.5 months. Another 12 (28%) received probation only.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Northern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Texas, 51 people were sentenced for stalking/harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 45 (88%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 27 months. Nearly all, 49 of 51 (96%), pleaded guilty.
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